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Showing posts from December 21, 2018


Symbolism in Banalinga - Bana Lingam Symbol

Banalinga is one among the numerous types of Shivling worshipped by Hindu devotees. There is deep symbolism attached to the Banalinga, which is a sacred object forming a part of daily worship in many temples, sacred places and homes. This is one of the Shivling that can be worshiped at home. The Shape of this Shivling is Oval or Egg.  What is formless is represented in terms of symbolic form such as an egg. Banalinga ranging from the size of an inch to cubit is known as Ishwara.  The color of the Shivling may be of honey, black beetle, blue, deep red, green or touchstone. It is mainly found in Amareshwara on the Mahendra Mountain in Nepal, Narmada River, Kanya Tirtha in Srisailam, Lingasaila and Kaligarta. To a Shiva devotee, Banalinga is like the Shaligrama of Vishnu Devotees and yantra (mystic diagram). Banalinga has five faces. Kamdev carried five banas (arrows) to disturb Shiva whose meditation after the death of Sati was causing imbalance in the universe. The five

Daityas in Hinduism – Story of Origin of Demons in Hindu Religion

In Hindu religion, demons (asuras) are referred to as Daityas. They were the sons of Diti and Sage Kashyapa . Diti served Sage Kashyapa with devotion to attain a valiant son. She was blessed with a child but Indra killed the embryo and cut into forty nine pieces and they became Maruts (a group of Devas). Indra was the son of Aditi, another wife of Sage Kashyapa , and she did not like Diti’s son to be powerful and challenge Indra. So it was on her advice that Indra killed the son of Diti. This cruel fate did not deter Diti from giving up, she continued serving Sage Kashyapa and she was blessed with two powerful sons, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. These two Daityas defeated Indra numerous times. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu are believed to be the ancestors of Daityas. Related Why there are Very Few Brahma Temples?

Creation of World in Vaishnavism - Creation Story Associated With Hindu God Vishnu

The Vaishnava school of thought refers to creation of the world as Jagat Srishti. As per Vaishnavism, the cause of the universe and the basis of its existence is Hindu God Vishnu. He gives birth to brahma – through a lotus coming out of his navel. This first creation after the Pralaya or great deluge is known as Samasti Srishti. The order of creation Jagat Karana – The reason behind all creation – Vishnu sleeping on banyan leaf on sea. He commences Samasti Srishti – birth of Brahma. Brahma then creates the Vedas, 14 lokas (7 above and 7 below), devas, yajna, tapas, vastu and purusharthas. Brahma then creates Pradhana Tattva. Pradhana Tattva gives birth to Mahat Tattva. Mahat Tattva creates the Gunas – Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasika. Next panchabhutas are created – space, air, fire, water and earth. Panchabhutas create 11 indriyas – sound, speech, sight, taste, smell, hands, legs, arms, skin, secreting organs and mind. Panchabhutas are mixed in a definit

How To Do Daily Worship And Meditation on Sri Krishna?

The answer to how to do daily worship and meditation on Sri Krishna is provided by Siddheshvari Devi. In your daily devotional practice, visualize Shri Krishna standing in front of you. You have complete freedom in choosing how to meditate on Him. If you find it difficult to visualize Him, feel free to take the help of a picture or a statue. Images of God help us concentrate on God. Use the image as a base for your meditation. Many people close their eyes and claim to be meditating on God. They have a picture or statue of God in front of them. They look at it and then with closed eyes visualize that image. This is not meditation on God. It is meditation on an inert object. You must visualize Shri Krishna. Do keep a photo or idol of Shri Krishna in front of you, but keep it only as a base for your visualization. That photo may be very small, but out of that photo, visualize a six-foot tall Krishna coming out and standing in front of you. The important thing